Times are tough, the economy sucks and everybody is underpaid and overworked. Unless you have a three figure salary, you could probably use an extra buck. But could you really manage having a second job? Regardless of your lifestyle, the answer is probably no. But don't fret; there are plenty of money making opportunities that don't require you to quit your day job.

If you're looking to make millions with little to no effort or time on your part, this article probably isn't for you, and get-rich-quick schemes are just that - schemes. The only way to really hit it big is to win the lottery, and we all know that's a long shot. If you are looking to put a couple extra bucks in your pocket however, there are plenty of ways to do that - most from the comfort of your own home.

1. Create things to sell - There are literally hundreds of hobbies that are not only fun, but can make you a couple extra bucks on the side. Knitting is a really great option because it can be done while you are relaxing in front of your television. Another similar craft is to make hemp jewelry and accessories. Hemp fashion is rapidly gaining in popularity and is inexpensive, easy and fun to do. When you perfect your craft, you can take your homemade goods to local craft fairs, markets, sell them at garage sales, or even sell them at online venues such as eBay, Etsy and Craigslist. This can be applied to almost anything - paintings, drawings and wood carving just to name a few. Browse a couple of pages on Etsy and see if there is anything that would interest you. The options for this are virtually endless - almost anything you hand make can be sold.

2. Sell things you already own - You don't need to have a time-consuming garage sale or have an attic full of valuable antiques in order to make some extra money selling the things that you no longer use. Thanks to the internet, it's as easy as snapping a couple of pictures and writing a short description. One of the most lucrative ways to make money doing this is to sell used electronics - things like old cell phones, cameras and other electronics can fetch a pretty penny. Craigslist and eBay are the best sites to use for this. Knowing which site to use is important - for common items like electronics, tools, household items and other things that appeal to a broader audience or things that would be hard to ship, use Craigslist. Collectibles, memorabilia, knick-knacks and other uncommon items do better on eBay because they reach a broader audience.

3. Buy things to resell - The best way to do this is to go to garage sales and buy anything that you think you could sell for a profit. You could also buy things that you know could fetch a higher value on eBay or Craigslist. It is best to find a certain niche and stick with it, whether it be electronics or household items.

4. Sell your old clothes - Clothing you no longer wear or have outgrown can be taken to consignment shops or Plato's Closet; you won't make very much doing this, but if you're not using them anyways it's better than them taking up space in your closet. Make sure you wash the items first and that they are in good condition. Plato's Closet will also buy back items such as shoes, accessories, books, CDs and DVDs.

5. Take surveys online - Many companies and websites will pay for consumer opinions and demographic information. It can be time consuming and the pay isn't great, but it's a nice option to do while you're browsing the internet anyways. One popular and trusted site is CashCrate, but there are virtually endless possibilities for this. Be sure to research the website before you sign up and dedicate time and energy to make sure they are a legitimate company and will actually pay out without selling your personal information.

6. Get a job in data entry - If you can type at a decent speed, inputting data can earn you not only some extra cash, but even an entire extra salary depending on how much time you are willing to invest. You can find companies near you locally that are looking for someone to do this time consuming task. There are also companies that will pay you to do this from the comfort of your own home on your personal computer.

7. Utilize a skill you already have - Maybe you have a green thumb, are a handyman, have an eye for design or are fluent in another language. If you have a skill and are proficient in it, you can almost certainly make money in it. A quick browse of Craigslist will return many hits of jobs for lawn car, yard maintenance, home repairs, language tutors, educational tutors, web and graphic design, home decorators and many other fields that may interest you. If nothing can be found pertaining to your skill on Craigslist, you can take out ads in your local paper for cheap or place ads online inexpensively and in some cases for free.

8. Take odd jobs - Many people need dog walkers, baby sitters, house cleaners, snow/leaf removal and street promoters. These are jobs that can be done in your spare time that almost anyone can do and pay relatively well. Again, check the local Craigslist job or gig section for these and other miscellaneous jobs.

9. Create a blog - You don't need to be a tech-savvy web master to run a blog. There are hundreds of sites that offer free or inexpensive templates. This can be hit or miss, and you surely will not make a lot of money upfront, but if you know a lot about a certain topic and are well-written this can be a great long-term money making venture.

10. Write articles - If you don't have the time, expertise, or dedication to commit to a blog, then you can still get paid to write. In addition to sites like Associated Content and Squidoo, you can also check with your local newspapers, periodicals and magazines to see if they are looking for anyone to write freelance articles.

11. Collect cans and bottles - Some states will pay you for the return of empty used bottles and cans. Even if your state doesn't participate in the Bottle Bill, check to see if a state nearby does. You can collect not only your own bottles and cans, but can find them littered throughout your city. Another great place to find them is after events. You'll not only be putting a couple of extra bucks in your pocket, but helping to make your city a cleaner environment.

12. Sell yourself - Not what you think! You can donate your plasma, blood, hair and sperm or eggs for some extra cash.

13. Take a temporary job with the census - Each year the census bureau recruits new temporary part-time employees to update information and conduct interviews within your community. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can make anywhere from $8-$20/hr. helping gather data.

14. Become a mystery shopper - Although it is hard to come across a legitimate secret shopper opportunity, they do exist. These organizations will pay you to do your normal shopping while reporting information about customer service, other shoppers and other quality control information. Some companies will even supply you with money to shop in addition to compensating you for the work preformed.

15. Open a new bank account - Some banks and credit card companies will give you a bonus for signing up with them if you meet certain requirements - most that are easy to fulfill, such as depositing a minimum of $50 and spending a certain amount within a time period. Bonuses can range from cash to free products such as iPods and cameras.

16. Rent out an extra room in your house - If you have an extra room in your house that isn't in use, a great way to earn a sizeable amount of extra cash is to rent it out. Don't care to have a roommate? You can still rent out a room on a "room only" deal, meaning that your tenant would only have access to the room and a bathroom, and you can restrict access to the other areas of your house such as the living room, dining room and even the kitchen.

17. Set up or fix electronics - If you're tech-savvy, you could make money assembling and setting up computers, or by mounting and calibrating flat screen TVs. You could even offer to repair electronics if you have a knack for it.

18. Participate in focus group studies - If you live in a metropolitan area, you can make a good amount of extra money doing things ranging from sleep studies to testing out new video games and everything in between.

19. Sell ad space on your car - Depending on where you live and the make and model of your car, some companies will pay you to "wrap" your car in their advertisement. If you don't mind the large-scale ads on your car, you can actually make a very good amount of money doing this.

20. Sign up for free trials and samples - Sure, this won't make you any cash but it will definitely save you some. Many companies are willing to send you trial samples of their product for no cost to you - they'll even ship it for free.